Ono hits double for Western Sydney

SYDNEY – Two cracking goals from Shinji Ono lifted newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers above Melbourne Victory and into the third spot in Australia’s A-League on Tuesday.

Ono, 33, was the difference as Wanderers leapfrogged twice champions Victory with a 2-1 win at home before almost 14,000 fans at Parramatta Stadium.

The 56-time-capped Japan international, laying claim to being the best-performing overseas marquee player in this season’s A-League, opened the scoring with a sublime piece of skill, twice juggling the ball in mid-air before unleashing a volley into the right corner just before halftime.

The playmaker popped up with the winner 11 minutes from time with a curling, long-range effort after Victory substitute Spase Dilevski had equalised seven minutes earlier.

It was Tony Popovic’s side’s fourth win in five games to confirm its credentials as a genuine title contender.